MobileRead Forums - View Single Post - Reimport same library in Calibre (without Save to Disk)?

rebl · 05-26-2015, 06:21 AM

Hello,
Is it possible to re-import the library folder "as is" in Calibre - without using "save to disk"?
I have some files with wrong extension that are causing troubles when converting, but they are already in the library and I can't rename.
I tried to save to disk all library, but some of the files are not exported (some mobi, some docs...).
So I'm thinking what if I move the library folder in a different location (in order to keep the files), delete the library from Calibre, rename the wrong extensions and then re-import from the old library folder the files in a new library?
Would this be possible? any cons?
Thank you.

L.E.: I assume the above might be quite a stupid question, or that I should have tried at least to RTFM first. The problem is I don't know where to search for the info I need.
I don't really know how does Calibre works with the OPF files and if they are up-to-day in every moment or do i need to "commit changes" to save the information to them.
[All right I found this information - they are updated after every change in the library]
I don't know if the OPF file stores also the exact file name and extension - I opened a few, for the doc file the extension was not metioned in the OPF file. So if I rename the doc to rtf, Calibre might import the file and the opf in the same folder even if I've changed the extension?
Also, what is the db file used for?
If all the info needed is in the opf files, will calibre read them if they are just named "metadata.opf" in the same folder as the book? If yes, then I could reimport the library without saving to disk first. But what if calibre would read an opf file only if it has the same name as the book file?

L.E.2:
I did a small test and imported in a new library a subfolder of the existing library containing a single book with 3 formats and an metadata.opf file.
Even if my settings ask for <authors> - <title> and the books were stored as Calibre usually does (title - author.ext) the books were imported correctly, with title and author in the correct places. So it seems that Calibre reads the metadata.opf file if adding "one book per directory". Then why do I see the recommendation to never do this, never copy the library, but instead use the Save to disk? Isn't it simpler to just copy the library and import in the new installation/PC/library? For me save to disk fails outputs a few error messages and there are a few missing books.

L.E.3:
Why do I ask this question here and don't test it myself? Because there are about 20.000 books in the library and I'm afraid I'm going to break something; also every save to disk or re-import all would take more than an hour.... I was hoping to find what's best to do, before doing it. Also, If I want to rename the files inside the existing library and that's not the best thing to do... I can't undo it.
Thanks for any input !!!

05-26-2015, 06:21 AM	#1
rebl r.eads e.njoys b.ooks lol Posts: 76 Karma: 580748 Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: It's time to get this Book a Rest Device: Kindle 4 NT	Reimport same library in Calibre (without Save to Disk)? Hello, Is it possible to re-import the library folder "as is" in Calibre - without using "save to disk"? I have some files with wrong extension that are causing troubles when converting, but they are already in the library and I can't rename. I tried to save to disk all library, but some of the files are not exported (some mobi, some docs...). So I'm thinking what if I move the library folder in a different location (in order to keep the files), delete the library from Calibre, rename the wrong extensions and then re-import from the old library folder the files in a new library? Would this be possible? any cons? Thank you. L.E.: I assume the above might be quite a stupid question, or that I should have tried at least to RTFM first. The problem is I don't know where to search for the info I need. I don't really know how does Calibre works with the OPF files and if they are up-to-day in every moment or do i need to "commit changes" to save the information to them. [All right I found this information - they are updated after every change in the library] I don't know if the OPF file stores also the exact file name and extension - I opened a few, for the doc file the extension was not metioned in the OPF file. So if I rename the doc to rtf, Calibre might import the file and the opf in the same folder even if I've changed the extension? Also, what is the db file used for? If all the info needed is in the opf files, will calibre read them if they are just named "metadata.opf" in the same folder as the book? If yes, then I could reimport the library without saving to disk first. But what if calibre would read an opf file only if it has the same name as the book file? L.E.2: I did a small test and imported in a new library a subfolder of the existing library containing a single book with 3 formats and an metadata.opf file. Even if my settings ask for <authors> - <title> and the books were stored as Calibre usually does (title - author.ext) the books were imported correctly, with title and author in the correct places. So it seems that Calibre reads the metadata.opf file if adding "one book per directory". Then why do I see the recommendation to never do this, never copy the library, but instead use the Save to disk? Isn't it simpler to just copy the library and import in the new installation/PC/library? For me save to disk fails outputs a few error messages and there are a few missing books. L.E.3: Why do I ask this question here and don't test it myself? Because there are about 20.000 books in the library and I'm afraid I'm going to break something; also every save to disk or re-import all would take more than an hour.... I was hoping to find what's best to do, before doing it. Also, If I want to rename the files inside the existing library and that's not the best thing to do... I can't undo it. Thanks for any input !!! Last edited by rebl; 05-26-2015 at 08:50 AM.